New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-14
GOOD FORTUNE PROBABLY KILLED HfK
AN OLD BLIND SOLDIER DIES ON THE EVE OF RE-
CEIyING A HANDSOME SUN. =.

CEIvING A HANDSOME SUN.
Thomas Stanley, IN old Irishman who was called
Blind Tom by his acquaintance, was found dead In
Peter Malannlffs liquor store In Mottst, next door
to Police Headquarters, yesterday morning He had
been blind for twenty years. 1t was said having been
injured by the accidental explosion OF sh ,l while no
was private in the United States Army and stationed
in Western fort after the war; Up to the time
of his injury lie had been soldier for about tortyfve
years. He served large part OF the time In the
British Army and took part in several battles OF tho
Crimean War. His service was in an infantry reg-
ment Having been honorably discharged alter some
years OF garrison duty IN India, he came to this
country while the Civil War was IN progress and en-
listed in the Union Army. He did Dot see much ngnt-
ing in the South hut after tho war he was sent TO the
Far West to fight Indians. and he renamed Id Tue ser
vice until he received the injury which left BIN per-
manently blind.
Stanley had been bachelor all his life, and his only
relatives in this country hs sister, Mrs. Lee, and
her children. They were living in this city, and q
made his home with them tor q time. For ten yeas
Stanley bad spent most of his true In MaIannfus
liquor store. He DRANK freely talked about his ex-
perences soldier as long as any one would listen
TO him, sst listening to barrOom gossip Il was not
possible Tor him to walk about the streets unless some
one directed his steps, as he was feshy, awkward
Occasionally he went to visit his sister at No.
265 Tenth-avc., but he preferred lite in the quo-
store He never took bath, seldom changed bis
clothing, and would not sleep in bed Summer and
winter he slept the floor of the liquor store at night,
after the place locked up, having on only his
ordinary clothing and blanket. He called il camp
ing-out All the children in the upper part OF Mottst.
knew the old soldier, and he was fond OF sitting in
front of the liquor store on days to hear them ut
play. . .
Stanley had a pension of $25 month AID he paid
tho money to Mclannif In return tor the M )ney he
was furnished with liquor and food. An application
for increase of pension was made in his behalf Q
few years ago, and saturday he was informed that
his pension had been raised to $!2 a month. Still
better, he told that check tor back pension pay.
amounting to over $G,OrO, was awaiting him in the
Pension Agents Office. He had been subject to fits for
several years, and the news br0ueht on an attack
which lasted over hour. After he had recovered
and had taken several drinks to celebrate mis-
good fortune he told his friends in the barrOom that
he would buy his sister house and take journey
with her to Ireland as he got the money. He
also bought a shirt 1t his intention to to
the Pension Office with his sister yesterday morning.
and just before he lett alone in the liquor store
Tuesday night he talking about collecting his pen
sion money. Hc was dead when Meannif opened the
store yesterday morning Evidently he had been
attacked with another fit he lay the floor dream
ing of his sudden wealth.
His body was sent to the Morgue yesterday because
Mellnnif could not expect to get any more OF the
pension money and Mrs. Lee too poor to pay tor
funeral expenses. 1t SAID that she would try to
get the Pension Agent TO advance enough money to
give her brothers body decent burial. She will also
make claim tor the pension money which was to
have been paid to him.